With voting starting next week, Deval Patrick focused on New Hampshire, South Carolina
While other Democratic presidential candidates focus on Iowa a few days before that state’s Monday caucuses, one long shot candidate is making his push in New Hampshire and South Carolina.
In the middle of a six-day bus tour in New Hampshire, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick shared an update of his campaign strategy heading into the Feb. 11 New Hampshire and Feb. 29 South Carolina primaries.
On a conference call with reporters, Patrick has said he is concentrating on the primary states instead of the caucuses in Iowa and Nevada, even though he does have a presence in those states.
He entered the race in November and is the only African American candidate, and one of three minorities seeking the Democratic nomination.
During the phone, Patrick’s campaign manager Abe Rakov said the former governor would spend a majority of his time in the Palmetto State after the New Hampshire primary.
“I think you’ll see we’ll exceed expectations in New Hampshire, which will then catapult us into South Carolina,” Rakov said.
Patrick has been investing resources in South Carolina, including hiring at least 10 staff members including a political director in the state, and opening an office in Columbia in January.
Patrick has spent at least 18 days in the state, making at least 30 stops, according to The State’s candidate tracker.
Patrick’s wife, Diane Patrick, also has been in South Carolina on behalf of her husband.
Patrick has a steep hill to climb in order to make the debate stages in New Hampshire and Nevada.
In order to make the New Hampshire debate stage on Feb. 7, candidates must be polling at least at 5% in four polls, or 7% in two polls, and have received contributions from at least 225,000 people. Candidates may also qualify by winning at least one delegate during the Iowa Caucus.
Nevada holds its caucuses one week before South Carolina’s primary. In order to make the stage for the debate in Las Vegas on Feb. 19, a candidate must receive at least 10% support in four polls, or 12% in two polls, or have earned one delegate in either Iowa or New Hampshire.
Patrick trails in the polls sometimes only able to garner 1% of the support.
“There has be a winnowing, I understand all that,” Patrick said. “We will do what we have to do compete.”
